To develop State level leadership to strengthen and expand comprehensive family literacy in Vermont

To establish professional development resources and methods to increase the capacity of schools and service providers to provide comprehensive family literacy services based on best practice and available research

To establish pilot projects which will model the development process for a fully integrated comprehensive family literacy service delivery and, in particular, how to provide comprehensive family literacy services in rural areas

To initiate the establishment of a credentialing process that defines the knowledge, skills, and attributes needed by service providers in order to be effective partners in family-centered services

Project Description

The overall purpose of the Vermont Family Literacy Project is to foster the integration and coordination of Vermont's early childhood education, adult literacy and basic education, and parenting education programs into a unified, comprehensive family literacy approach. The key activities that support the goals stated above include: information and data gathering; consensus building; development of indicators of program quality; training for consortium members and the establishment of a Family Literacy Training Team; development of family literacy workshop and professional development modules; implementation of Family Literacy Summer Institutes; pre-service and in-service curriculum integration; establishment of a clearinghouse; establishment of criteria and guidelines for comprehensive family literacy; development and support of pilot sites; and, establishment of a subcommittee to initiate the process of developing a Family Development Credential.

Priorities

Using research on reading and literacy in program planning

Implementing a professional development plan for staff

Increasing the intensity of family literacy activities for school-age children (up to 7 years old)